Hey,
I recently bought a Bb whistle from Mack Hoover for my son, who is turning 10 this month. It’s a brass barrel with one of Mack’s whitecaps. My son won’t open the gift for a few days, but I’ve been playing it after he goes to bed.
It has a lovely sound, but I’m having trouble finding a good C-natural. I’ve tried OXXOOO, OXXOXO and OXXXXO. I can half-hole the note just fine. But I fear my son will struggle with that.
Anyway, I’d appreciate any advice. If not, it will be a good excuse for my kid to get the hang of half holing.
Best,
Joe
What about OXXXOX? That seems to be the only permutation you haven’t tried, and it’s the one that works best on most whistles where OXXOOO is too sharp.
I wouldn’t know, have never seen any of Mack’s whistles. On another whistle where a cross-fingered C-nat seems to be difficult to obtain (Sindt D), adjusting breath pressure can help somewhat.
BTW, not trying to be clever, but the note you are trying to get is actually an Ab. Flattened seventh would describe the equivalent note for all whistles.
I actually have never used that fingering. I will give it a shot after the lad goes to bed tonight. Thanks.
And good point on the Ab.
Best,
Joe
You’ve already answered your own question.
That’s the one fingering that works on all whistles.
My guess is that is your own personal fear. Children have no such fear (unless they are taught to have that fear). They are very adaptable and will learn most techniques best by starting at it while they are young.
One thing with Mack’s whistles, as StevieJ has suggested - make sure your are not overblowing the note when you are using the cross-fingerings. One of the above fingerings should be very close to pitch.
Feadoggie
oxx xox comes naturally (!) to me, because that’s what I use on my uilleann chanter, one of many fingerings and techniques that crosses over multiple Irish wind instruments.
I usually alternate between it and oxx oox, which also works on some uilleann chanters.
Of course the uilleann chanter has one more fingerhole, so the first one is oxx xoxx the second one oxx ooxx, though some chanters need oxx xoox.
This may sound silly, but C-nat is just XXX XXO on a Bb whistle… Are you talking about Ab?
Pat
See here. But anyway, I thought as the whistle is a transposing instrument calling it “C natural [fingering]” would be appropriate…? Everyone seemed to know what’s meant after all. 
Yes trad players think of the notes as being on a D instrument no matter what size whistle they happen to pick up.
I think it’s rare for a trad player to be aware of the Concert pitches of the scales of each instrument.
For somebody coming to the whistle from the “legit” side it would be different, particularly if the person had perfect pitch.
Due to the differences in scale between the Highland pipes (as written) and “D” Irish woodwinds (as written) I have a dual concept, and naturally think of all the notes of the scale as being equally one or the other, so that if I’m playing a D whistle or an A whistle I’m thinking of the Concert notes. Other keys of whistles, no, I’m thinking of them in the D-based or A-based worlds.
In other words xxx ooo is equally G or D to me.